Borrowing Light(9)
When she finished painting a sketch, Shen Riqiu put away her painting tools, and Lin Yu naturally helped her pack up her paint box and sketchbook, his movements so skillful that it looked as if they had been working together for a long time.
"Lin Yu."
After packing up, Shen Rikai called him softly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.
"Thank you."
Lin遇 lowered his eyes to look at her, the corners of his mouth carrying a bit of a gentle smile, "No need to thank you."
He paused and added, "I'm happy that I can be by this lake, with you."
They walked side by side back into town, through the still damp grass and gravel paths.
The sunlight spilled over the shadows of the two men, drawing them silently closer and overlapping them.
Margaret's backyard was in full bloom.
Wild roses, sage, lavender, and a tiny lemon tree with crooked branches.
Shen Rihui moved a small wooden chair, sat down under the lemon tree, and set up her easel.
Today's sunshine is very good, the air is full of the warm scent of plants that have been exposed to the sun.
She wore a cotton white skirt over a light gray knit cardigan, with a scarf hanging loosely around her neck.At her feet was the lemon and honey tea that Margaret had brewed for her, tiny drops of dew hanging on the walls of the cup.
Shen Rihui dabbed at the paint and carefully sketched the outline of the lemon tree on the canvas.
Her movements were slow and soft, as quiet as a cat.
A few soft knocks came from the doorway.
Shen Riqui raised her head and saw Lin Yu standing outside the courtyard door holding a small cloth bag, the sunlight poured down from the cracks of the trees, gilding the tips of his hair with a circle of faint light.
She put down her pen and got up to open the door.
"Hi."Lin Yu smiled and shook the bag in his hand, "It's my day off, so I brought you a little snack."
"Thank you, come on in."Shen Riqui smiled back and sidled up to let him into the courtyard.
Lin Yu took off his shoes and gently walked over to her easel, placing the small cloth bag on a side table.As soon as the bag was opened, a sweet aroma poured out.
It was small hand-baked cookies-honey lemon flavored, crookedly shaped but extraordinarily cute looking.
"Try them?"He winked, like a child expecting praise.
Shen Riqui picked up a piece and took a bite, the warmth of honey and the freshness of lemon blossoming in her mouth, and she laughed out softly, "It's delicious."
Lin Yu sat across from her, supporting his chin to watch her draw.
From time to time, she raised her eyes to look at the lemon leaves being blown by the wind in the yard, and at other times, she lowered her head to depict the details.The sunlight fell on the tips of her hair, and her entire body felt like it was wrapped in soft light.
They occasionally chatted, occasionally quiet.
The rustle of the wind blowing the leaves mingled with the distant chimes like a lazy lullaby.
Night slowly descended, and Margaret lit a warm little lamp in the house.
Shen Rikui packed up her painting tools and sat on the small swing in the courtyard with Lin Yi, holding a cup of lemon and honey tea each.
Lin遇 swung the swing and said in a low voice, "When I was little, I used to swing here.At that time, it always felt like there was a bigger world waiting for me outside the yard.But when I grew up, I liked this small world instead."
Shen Riqiu looked at him sideways, with a little softness in her eyes.
"The world is so big, it's good enough to meet a small corner that I like."
She responded softly.
The wind blew over and the swing swayed gently.
The shoulders of the two crept closer in the night, and naturally pressed together again.
Lin Yu inclined his head to look at her and didn't say anything, only handing over the teacup in his hand and gently clinking it with hers.
The crisp sound of the cup resounded in the night.
Like a small, silent agreement.
The old bookstore in town, hidden deep in the alley.
Brick-red walls, mottled wooden doors, a handwritten signboard hanging on the door: "Pick up the light bookstore."